USAID Rules and Regulations: Grants and Cooperative Agreements Workshop from 18th to 21st November 2024

Capacity Africa Training Institute is pleased to announce a training workshop on:

USAID Rules and Regulations: Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Date: 18th to to 22nd November 2024

Course Fee: $ 700

Venue: Meridian Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Course Description

Whether you are new to USAID funding requirements or have years of program experience, at the end of this highly participatory training you’ll know how to navigate USAID rules and regulations to benefit your work. Our experienced facilitators take you step-by-step through the structure of USAID’s rules and regulations and introduce you to the USAID Award cycle. You will return to your project able to easily find answers to questions about your award – from ‘are laptops allowable?’ to ‘does my international trip need prior approval?’ to ‘how do I dispose of a vehicle?’. In addition to maintaining donor compliance, you’ll also learn how to build strong working relationships with USAID and develop policies for the successful management of your grant or cooperative agreement.

What will you learn

  • Understand different types of assistance awards under USAID
  • Be familiar with the rules and regulations applicable for USAID assistance awards
  • Navigate through the rules and regulations
  • Understand the role and responsibility as a recipient of USAID funding
  • Feel more confident to manage their award

Who should attend

  • Anyone managing or bidding on a USAID grant or cooperative agreement from finance, compliance, program, administrative, or new business development teams.
  • Independent auditors or CPAs who perform compliance or financial audits within the development sector.
  • USAID staff, especially Agreement Officers and Agreement Officer’s Representatives.

This training can help you with regulations that apply across US Government funding agencies.

How will you learn

Capacity Africa Institute’s practical training puts the learner first. Our expert facilitators draw on their own sector and subject-specific knowledge for a worthwhile and enjoyable learner experience. They will share relevant tools, techniques and insights that are immediately transferable to your own work. You are also actively encouraged to engage in collaborative learning through discussions and hands-on group work.

Agenda

Introduction to USAID

Welcome and icebreaker

Introduction to USAID

USAID implementing mechanisms

Types of awards

USAID rules and regulations

USAID rules and regulations map

USAID Rules & Regs; Pre-Award Considerations

Rules and Regulations

First phase of the Award cycle; 2 CFR 200, Subpart C

Navigating the rules exercise

Organizational preparation for USAID funding

Second phase of the award cycle

Self-Led Learning I: Introduction to USAID Ethical Standards

Why are ethics needed?

Pre-award certifications and assurances

Policies needed

Ethics, USAID Authorization and Award Structure

Recap of certifications and ethics

How to ensure compliance to the ethical standards within the organization? Exercise

Continuation award cycle: implementation

Authorization structure in USAID (AO/AOR); substantial involvement in the award AOR designation letter

Unauthorized commitments

Award layout

Award budget

USAID Financial Management

Financial management

Standards for financial management systems

Internal controls, payments, banking and interest

Financial management discussion

Cost sharing (difference with cost allocation)

Program income

Revision of budget and program plans

Budget revisions and prior approvals exercise

Cost Principles and Indirect Costs

Recap on cost principles

Timekeeping and time allocation

Cost principles exercise

Indirect costs (all methods)

Procurement and Property Standards

Procurement regulations mapped out

Procurement policies & eligibility rules:

Telecommunications and surveillance

Procurement exercise including restricted and ineligible items, vetting process, prior approvals

Foreign government-controlled organizations; Nationality of employees and consultants

Restricted items; Long-term leases; Waivers

Self-Led Learning III: Audits

Different types of audits

Audit thresholds

How to prepare for a smooth audit process

Common audit findings

Sub-award Management

Difference between procurement of goods, services, and subawards

Contractual relationship: USAID, Prime, Sub

Different kinds of subs

Responsibility of prime

Registration for federal award systems (UEI, SAM)

FFATA Reporting

Sub-agreement, amendments, and flow-down provisions

Sub-recipient monitoring: Reporting/visits

Audit and Content Soup

Recap on audit

Branding and marking

International travel

Reporting requirements

Award Exercise, Close-out and Disposition

Recap on content soup

Award review exercise

Award cycle continued

Record retention

Develop a close-out timeline exercise

Final plenary session and wrap-up

Training Package Value for Money.

Training will be facilitated by professionals with hands on skills and great wealth. Participants coming from outside NAIROBI are requested to organize their own accommodation and transport. We can however reserve accommodation space for you at the training venue.

Kindly confirm your participation with:

The Training Coordinator

Capacity Africa Institute

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.capacityafrica.com